Esbjerg-OB

Monday 20/10 19.00

Esbjerg (11th) are struggling at the moment. They play some decent football, but they do not get points for it. Offensively they are way to dependent on Martin Pusic (scored six out of eleven Esbjerg goals). Pusic is a great player, but the opponents know this by now. If they can eliminate Pusic, they eliminate Esbjerg’s offense. New offensive signing Robin Söder has not convinced us, he has been mostly anonymous and does not invest sufficient effort. Winger Jakob Ankersen who has been a key player of Esbjerg in past seasons is underperforming at the moment. This leaves Esbjerg’s only strength to be the very energetic and offensive minded backs, Jonas Knudsen and Ryan Johnson Laursen. Unfortunately Knudsen is suspended here, and Esbjerg are likely to cover with midfielder Martin Bergvold, which is a quite poor alternative. OB (10th) got a point-wise good start under new coach Ove Pedersen (won 2-0 against Silkeborg). In truth they played a quite poor match that easily could have ended in another defeat. Instead OB took an undeserved win, but this could add some much needed confidence. OB have been very poor this autumn, where they have struggled due to the injury of midfielder Rasmus Falk and the poor form of winger Emil Larsen. Rasmus Falk could play a minor part here, but he has been out for a while so it is doubtful that he will have a significant effect here. OB have some defensive players with a good fighting attitude and coach Pedersen is likely to focus on this foremost with the aim of just getting a point here. Captain and central midfielder Ari Skulason is an injury doubt here.

Esbjerg are fairly one-sided and lack confidence. At the other end OB lack offensive weapons and will at all costs try to avoid a defeat that will put them below the relegation line. For us this is very likely to be a low-scoring match, where a draw would be logical.

Recommendation: Under 2.5 goals – 2.025 at Bet365

Idea: X – 3.60 at Bet365

UPDATE: Central defender Daniel Stenderup is likely to take care of the left back for Esbjerg, while Eddi Gomes is back in the central defense. Seems like a better decision than putting Bergvold on left back position. 

Leaguespy preview:
http://leaguespy.com/preview.php?id=39084&a=33624